Cotton-picker



1.7V VEJV TOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

s. HQ-FRIST. COTTON IIGKBR.

' Patented. Nov.9, 1886.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

S. H'. PRIST. COTTON PIGKER. No. 352,458. Patented Nov. 9, 1886.

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S. H.=FRIST.

COTTON. BIGKER.

Nd. 352,458. Patented Nov. 9, 1886.

WITNESSES 5%; 94, W

(No Model.) 4 sl metv- -sheet 4. S. H. FRIST.

COTTON PIGKER.

No. 352,458. Patented Nov. 9, 1886.

u. PETERS. Pholo-Lilhngnphe Washinghn. uc.

UNITE STATES.

PATENT Fries.

SAMUEL HENRY FRIST, OF OHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

COTTCN-PICKE R.

GPE CIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,458, dated November 9, 1886.

Application filed June 10, 1885.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL HENRY FRIST, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oott0n-Harvest ers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a perspective view of my improved cotton-harvester. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view showing the outer side of the machine. Fig. 4 is a side View taken from the opposite or inner side of the machine. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 00 m in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the liney y in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a top view. Fig. 8 is a detail View showing a modification in the construction and arrangement of the pickerrods. Fig. 9 is a sectional'view of one of the bails and pulleys. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the harvester attached to wagon ready for operation, and Fig. 11 is a rear view of the same.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures. V

This invention relates to machines for picking or gathering cotton; and it has for its object to provide a machine of this class which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency.

\Vith these ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrange ment, and .combination of parts,which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings heretoannexed, A designates a vertical frame composed of front and rear pieces or beams, 13 0, connected by crossbars D D. Y Y

E and F are a pair of shafts jonrnaled,-respeotively, nearthe upper and lower ends of the frame A, and equipped each with adrum, G,over which runs a belt or apron, H, to which is attached a series of bails or brackets, I I, af-

50 fording bearings for the picker-rods J J. The

bases of these bailsare elongated andaresecured Serial No. 168,208.

(No model.)

to the belt or apron,with the longer portion in a line with the belt. The boxes or bearings, which are designated by lettersK K, are provided with linings L, of rawhide, horn, leather, or other suitable material, whereby friction shall be reduced to aminimum, so as to enable the said picker-rods to revolve freely in their bearings. The inner ends of the picker-rods are providedwith cone-shaped or bell-shaped pulleys or frictionwheels M, working in the bails or brackets I I, and the outer ends of the picker-rods, which project beyond the said bails or brackets,are provided with struck-up spurs or barbs N N, arranged spirally around mounted a drum or cylinder, T, one end of which is provided with an annular groove, U, forming a band-wheel. Mounted upon the said drum or cylinder T is a series of brushes or strippers, V V, serving to strip the cotton off the picker-rods when the latter passthe said. brushes.

The shaft F, near the lower end of the frame, is provided with a band-wheel,\V, located between the frame-pieces B and O, and the shaft E, near the upper end of the frame, extends through the rear frame-piece, G, and is pro- I vided at its rear end with a band-wheel, X.

Y is a belt or band running over the bandwheels VVQ, X U and back toW, in the order named and in the manner clearly illustrated in the drawings hereto annexed, thereby serving to impart a rotary motion to the shafts E and F, and to operate the belt or apron H, running over the drums upon the said shafts,

and serving, furthermore, to operate the rotary cylinder carrying the stripping-brushes.

Zdesignatesabar secured to the crosspieces DB of the frame. J ournaled loosely to the outer side of the said bar are a series of pulleys or friction-wheels, A A, that bear against the rear side of the belt or band Y, holding I track or bearing against which the front sides of the friction-wheels M of the picker-rods may impinge, thereby receiving a rotary motion in an opposite direct-ion to that imparted to the said picker-rods by the belt or band Y. After the picker-rods pass the cam-shaped strip they. do not rotate in either direction until they pass the pulley-W and bear against the band Y, which causes them to rotate as they pass up through the plant.

My improved cotton-pickers are to be maderight and left hand, so as to be adapted to be attached for operation to the two sides of a wagon, the machines being preferably connect-ed to the sides of the wagon-box, between the front and'rear wheels, by means of arms or brackets of suitable construction. Motion may be imparted to the machines by hand or by suitable mechanism connected to the wagongcaring. Vhcn the wagon progresses over the field and the machines are operated, the picker-rods will travel in an upward direction upon the outer sides of the machines, and at the same time be rapidly revolved by the mechanism herein described,thus stripping the cotton off the plants and winding it, as itwere, upon the said picker-rods, the prongs or barbs N N being faced in the proper direction for this purpose. When the picker-rods reach the upper end of the frame, their pulleys M will come into engagement with the track B thereby reversing the rotary motion of the said rods and .causing the cotton to be easily unwound. and stripped off the said rods by the brushes or strippers V, by means of which the cotton may either be thrown directly into the wagon-box or receptacle, or onto an in'clined plane chute or other device,whereby it may be conveyed to the said box.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings I have shown a modification of my invention which has reference to the construction and arrangement of the picker-rods. It is obvious that when the latter during the operation of the device come in contact with the leaves and branches of the cotton-plants some degree of flexibility is required, in order to prevent such leaves and branches from obstructing the operation to a serious extent. The flexibility of the carrying band or belt upon which the picker-rods are mounted, and the manner in which the bails carrying the rods are secured to it, to some extent serves this purpose; but it may frequently be deemed desirable to provide the picker-rods with interposed springs, whereby they shall be rendered additionally flexible.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings, 1 designates a picker-rod formed ofwire, and having a portion ofits length coiled, so as to form aspring, S 1? is a picker-rod formed with a series of loops, S which also form springs for a similar purpose.

It is obvious that where belts or bands and band-Wheels or friction-pulleys have been described as being used in this machine, chains and sprocket-wheels or equivalent devices may be substituted in their place.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood.

The general construction of my improved cotton-picker is simple, and the machine may be manufactured at a small expense and attached for operation to a suitable wagon. This, however, is not essential, as the machine may be equally well attached to a suitably'constructed barrow adapted to be driven by hand, horse, or any other suitable power; and I desire it to be distinctly understood that with regard to the means for or'method of operating the machine I do not wish to limit myself. I would also have it understood that with regard to the detailed construction of the machine I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein shown, but reserve to myself the right to all modifications which may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesi 1. In acotton-harvester, the combination'of a flat carrying belt or apron, ase'ries of pickerbearing brackets, the bases of which are elongated and rigidly secured to the face of the belt, with the longer portions in aline with the belt and projecting at right angles from the same, an outwardlyprojecting picker-rod journalcd in each of said brackets, and means for moving said belt and for rotating said pickers around theirown axes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 2. In a cotton-harvester, the combination of a traveling carrying belt or apron having a series of revolving picker-rods secured to and projecting at right angles from the face thereof, a friction-pulley secured to the inner end of each of said rods, a friction-belt lying parallel to the picker-belt and bearing against the sides of said pulleys, and means for moving the friction-belt in the opposite direction to the movement of said apron, thereby imparting a rotary motion to said picker-rods around their own axes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a cotton-harvester, the herein-described picker-rods provided with a loop or springcoll integral therewith interposed or formed between their inner and outer ends, whereby the said rods are rendered flexible, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. In a cotton-harvester, the combination of a traveling carryingbelt having aseries of laterally-projecting picker-rods secured to its face, a friction-belt parallel with and traveling in the opposite direction to the movement of said carryingbelt, and a series of friction-pulleys secured to the frame of the machine in a line with and bearing against said friction-belt, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In acotton-harvester, the combination of a carrying belt or apron, the picker-rods having friction-pulleys at their inner ends secured to said apron, and a cam shaped strip or track secured at the upper end of the frame'of the machine and adapted to bear against the friction-pulleysof the picker-rods, to which latter a rotary motion may thus be imparted, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

6. In a c-ottoneharvester, the combination of an endless carrying belt or apron, the rotary picker-rods suitably mounted upon the same, and a revolving cylinder carrying a series of brushes adapted to strip the cotton off the picker-rods, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

7. As an improvement in cotton-harvesters, the combination of a suitable frame, an endless carrying belt or apron, brackets mounted 011 the latter, picker-rods journaled in the said brackets and having frictioirpulleys' at their inner ends and projecting spirally pronged or barbed ends, a driving-belt adapted to bear against the friction-pulleys of the picker-rods While the latter are being carried in,an upward direction, a cam-shaped track adapted to bear against the opposite side of the said frictionpulleys when the picker-rods are at the top of the machine, a revolving cylinder having brushes adapted to strip the cotton off the picker-rods, and suitable operating mechanism, all arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my'own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL HENRY FRIST.

Ni t nesses:

J A0013 0. FRIST, D. CAL. MoMILLIN. 

